Joint injuries can have serious short-term and long-term effects on your life. Changes in mobility, range of motion, and overall limb strength could mean certain jobs are no longer safe for you to perform. When these kinds of injuries impact your well-being and your ability to earn a proper wage, you need to speak with an Indianapolis, IN work injury attorney.
The team at Golitko & Daly would like to consider injuries to the knee, specifically the ACL. This ligament is essential for proper use of the leg, and we want to discuss why people in construction and other physically demanding jobs must be mindful of such injuries.
What Is the ACL?
The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is one of the major ligaments located in the knee, connecting the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). It is essential for stabilizing the knee joint.
Signs and Symptoms of ACL Injuries
The most common signs and symptoms of ACL injuries include:
- A popping sensation in the knee
- A popping sound from the knee
- Severe pain in the knee
- Rapid swelling of the affected knee
- Inability to move or bend the knee
- Inability to support weight on the affected leg
If you experience any of these issues, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention. Even if it is not an ACL injury, the knee is a complicated joint, and damage to others structures around the knee can be just as serious and debilitating.
The Most Common Causes of ACL Injuries at Work
While commonly associated with sports injuries, the ACL can be torn and damaged in all kinds of physical activities, which includes motions made in physically demanding jobs. ACL injuries are typically the result of the following:
- Sudden shifts/changes in direction
- Sudden stopping
- Pivoting of the knee while the foot is firmly planted on the ground
- Awkward landings on the knee
- Various kinds of physical trauma to the knee joint
After undergoing medical treatment for you ACL injury, it’s important to reach out to our Indianapolis law firm for more information about legal options.
Treatment and Recovery from an ACL Injury
It can take several weeks for proper rehabilitation of a minor ACL injury. In these cases, resting the knee, keeping the knee elevated, and physical therapy are essential. Surgery such a ligament reconstruction may be required for major ACL injuries, which can extend the recovery time given the nature of the procedure.
During this time, you may be unable to work or earn a living since you are off your feet. When returning to normal activities, you may notice changes in the strength and stability of the affected knee as well. This can have a long-term impact on your ability to perform you job as well as what kinds of tasks you are able to do safely.
Holding Negligent Employers Accountable
If unsafe working conditions or issues with negligent co-workers or third-parties resulted in your ACL injury, you may have cause to pursue a work injury lawsuit.
Our lawyers can go over all of the evidence in your case and determine if such a lawsuit is in your best interests. We can help negotiate a settlement with the negligent party, and will not be afraid to take your case to court in order to hold them accountable.
Contact Our Work Injury Attorneys
For more information about ACL injuries and your legal options following an on-the-job injury, be sure to contact our team of work injury lawyers. You can reach our law office in Indianapolis by calling (317) 942-3596.